Effect of climate on agriculture

1. Effect of Climate on Agriculture
Agriculture is the backbone of Pakistan’s economy. It
contributes21 percent to the GDP of the country. Almost 67
percent of the populationis involveddirectly or indirectlywith
agriculture. The livelihoodof theses farming communities
dependson agriculture but it is characterized as a relatively
risky business. Therefore, it affects the interests of farming
communities. The major risks in agriculture caused by different
internal and external factors are classified as the production,
marketing and financialrisks, whereas the major reasons for
low productivityand reliabilityof farm income include the non-
availability ofimproved seeds, fertilisers used, weed
infestation, shortage of irrigation water, drought and seasonal
variationof rainfall, inadequateresearch efforts and inefficient
extension services with respect to many agriculturalcrops.
Most common practices for low productivityare crop
intensification,mono-croppingand conventionalsoil
management practices.
Temperature
Pakistan lies in arid and semi-arid region and is facing rising
temperatures. This increase in temperature will cause severe
impacts. Pakistan is an agriculture based country but it is on
decline and farmers’ inclinationtowardsagriculture is not the
same as it was a decade ago. Climate change has potential
impacts on agriculture but the farming community is not even

2. aware of it. They don’t know that cropping pattern may face
drastic changes in the coming 20-30 years because of rising
temperatures. We could see a 30 percent loss of production
due to climate change. Farmers are still followingtraditional
methods of farming. In this regard a project will be launchedin
different ecologicalzones of Punjab. Three ecological zones
(Cotton Zone, Rice Zone and Arid Zone) will be selected to
explore the effects of climate change on the farming
communities and farmers’ concern toward climate change.
Findingsof this project will be helpfulin formulating policies,
especiallyfor farming communities livingin these ecological
zones.
The effects of globalclimate change in Pakistan are already
evident in the form of growing frequency of droughts and
flooding, increasinglyerratic weather behaviour,changes in
agriculturalpatterns, reduction in freshwater supply and the
loss of biodiversity.
Diseases
In short, climate change could hinder the achievementof many
of the MillenniumDevelopmentGoals (MDGs), includingthose
of poverty eradication,child mortality, malaria,and other
diseases, and environmentalsustainability.Much of this
damage would come in the form of severe economic shocks.
Therefore, mitigating and adapting actionsare considered to be
the two key ways of combating climate change.

3. Glaciers
Almost 50 percent of the land area of Pakistan is at the risk of
getting affected just because of climate change. Pakistani
Himalayanglaciers that feed almost seven great Asian rivers are
getting affected by the changing climate. These glaciers are
expected to completely melt down in the coming 50 years. The
developingcountries are the ones that are most vulnerableto
the environmental,social and economic impacts of climate
change. Thisis mostly due to their geographical locationand
socio-economic fragility.
Floods
The adverse effects and impacts of climate change on the
agriculturalsector of Pakistan could cause havoc in the country.
The recent floods have caused a loss of 2.6 millionacres of land
resources whereas the wheat yields are estimated to declineby
6 to 9 percent and have given rise to food inflation.
Effect on Industries
As the industrialsector of Pakistan dependsupon the
agriculturalsector, these climate changes have a direct effect
on the economy of Pakistan.